浅谈英语谚语的来源功能及其修辞.docx

1、浅谈英语谚语的来源功能及其修辞浅谈英语谚语的来源、功能及其修辞林碧媛Abstract Proverbs, in colorful and vivid language, reflect important typical cultural values of every culture . Simple and popular, concise and pithy, they are passed on from gengeration to generation in the readable oral form and have gradually become a component i

2、ndispensable to the dominant culture of that nation.This paper contains three parts: the sources of English proverbs、 the functions of English proverbs and the rhetorical devices of English proverbs.Firstly, it introduces the sources of English proverbs. Proverbs have a long history. The y are brief

3、 and well-polished expressions embedded in philosophical ideas concerning different aspects of life. They are the summary of people experience in everyday life, so they originated from peoples daily life and experience. To be specific, they come from folk life, religion, mythology, literary works, o

4、ther languages, famous writers wisdom, a nations history and so on.Secondly, it mentions the function of English proverbs. Its function is to teach and advise people what they see in their lives. Many English proverbs guide people to adopt a correct attitude towards life and to take a proper way to

5、get along well with others. Some other proverbs tell people what to do and how to do it, so the proverbs guide peoples daily life. From them, people may broaden their knowledge and outlook. Thirdly, it describes their rhetorical devices. English proverbs are rich and colorful. With regard to the eve

6、rlasting charm of the English proverbs, there are many different reasons. The most important one is the extensive use of rhetorical devices and rhythmatical ways, so their language is full of image and vividness and has a strong artistic beauty and power.Key Words English proverbs； sources； function

7、s； rhetorical devices【摘 要】 谚语丰富多彩，生动隽永，反映了每个民族追崇的重要而独特的文化价值观。谚语简单通俗，精辟凝练，尤其以朗朗的口语形态承传沿用，渐渐成为民族主流文化不可缺少的一部分。这篇论文包含三个部分： 英语 谚语的来源，英语谚语的功能及其修辞。第一部分是介绍英语谚语的来源，英语谚语源远流长，是人类日常生活经验的结晶。它来源于日常生活与经验，确切地说，来源于民间生活，宗教，神话，文学著作，其他语言，名人名言以及国家 历史 等。第二部分是介绍英语谚语的功能，谚语的功能是 教育 和指导人们在日常生活中所遇到的情况，同时它们引导人们采取正确的态度对待生活。从谚语中，

8、人们可以拓宽自己的知识面，避免出错，具有敏锐的观察力的人从中受益非浅。第三部分是介绍英语谚语的修辞：英语谚语丰富多彩，具有永恒的魅力，其原因之一就是 应用 了大量的修辞格和押韵 方法 ，这就使谚语更形象，生动并具有强烈的 艺术 美和感染力。【关键词】 英语谚语；来源；功能；修辞格1. IntroductionProverbs are short sayings of folk wisdom of well-known facts or truths compendious expressed and in a way that makes them easy to remember. Beca

9、use the proverbs are so brief, they have universal appeal. Many people love to pick up proverbs. The use of one or two in the original language is often a minor victory for the beginning foreign language learners. Proverbs may provide interesting little glimpses or clues to a peoples geography, hist

10、ory, social organization, social views, and attitudes. People who live along seacoasts and whose livelihood is dependent on the sea will have proverbs about sailing, about braving the weather, about fish and fishing. In cultures where old age is revered, there will be proverbs about the wisdom of th

11、e elders. And in societies where womens status is low, there will be a number of sayings demeaning them.Proverbs tell much about a peoples traditional ways of experiencing reality, about the proper or expected ways of doing things, about values and warnings, and rules and wisdoms the elders want to

12、impress on the minds of their young. The important character of proverbs the shorter the better makes it easy to commit them to memory for ready recall when the occasion calls for serious or humorous comment or warning. Created by people in high and low status, humble folk and great authors, borrowe

13、d from ancient or neighboring cultures, proverbs have been accumulating over many centuries. Some are only locally known many are shared around the world. If one wants to have better knowledge of English culture， he should be familiar with the sources and functions of English proverbs.2. The sources

14、 of English proverbs2.1 Originating from folk lifeProverbs are the summary of people experience in their everyday life. The summarized experience and reason are abstracted from the practice of peoples life and work. They express peoples simple and healthy thoughts, feelings and sentiments. More ofte

15、n than not, it reveals a universal truth from a particular point so as to enlighten people.A great number of proverbs were created by working people such as seamen, hunters, farmers, workmen, housewives and cooks and so on, using familiar terms that were associated with their own trades and occupati

16、ons. For example, Living without the aim is like sailing without a compass was first used by seamen If you run after two hares, you will catch neither by hunters April rains for corn, May, for grass by farmers New broom sweeps clean by housewives and Too many cooks spoil the broth by cooks, etc. Suc

17、h expressions were all colloquial and informal and once confined to a limited group of people engaged in the same trade or activity. But they were proved to be vivid, and forcible and stimulating, so later they broke out of their bounds and gradually gained wide acceptance. As a result, their early

18、stylistic features faded in some way and many have come to become part of the common core of language, now being used in different occasions.Some proverbs are related to some folk practice and customs. For example, Good wine needs no bush.1 This proverb is from an ancient popular English practice. I

19、n the past, English wine merchants tended to hang some ivy bushes or a picture of ivy bushes on their doors as a symbol of wine selling. But some merchants wine was so good that it cant be ignored without sign. This in fact shows the past common practice that merchants of different trades would hang

20、 different particular things as signs for their goods. Another example is involved with peoples wedding practice. English people believed that if the weather were fine and sunny on a girl-wedding day, the girl would most probably enjoy a happy marriage life. Otherwise, all sorts of misfortunes and t

21、ragedies would befall on her. Because of this custom, English people have got a proverb Happy is the bride that sun shines on.2 This proverb originated from the common practice in ancient China. In the past, young girls didnt have the right to decide whom to marry. Their parents had the final decisi

22、on in their marriage. Usually, the parents would ask a matchmaker for help. The matchmaker went between two families and passed on the messages. Finally, the girls parents made the final decision whether the girl would marry the chosen boy or not. This is known as arranged marriage. Such a marriage,

23、 more often than not, would lead the couple to an unhappy life. Because they seldom or even never saw each other before, they knew even little about the other partys behavior or manners, let alone his/her personality or virtues. It was often beyond the couples hopes to enjoy a happy marriage. Some p

24、roverbs came from ancient people deeply rooted beliefs such as their superstitious tendency and belief. In the past, English people believed that if a person spoiled salt from the salt bottle, misfortune and bad luck would follow. Then this person must scatter the spoiled salt from their left should

25、ers so as to drive off their ill luck. In turn, English people have got the proverb Help me to salt and you help me to sorrow. 3 Some proverbs come from peoples distinction between sexes such as their discrimination against women. It comes from a deeply rooted traditional viewpoint. Such as Three wo

26、men and a goose make a market Long hair and short wit The more women look in their glass，the less they look to their house.2.2 Originating from religionBible is essential for British and American cultures. It is said that their cultures are not integrated without Bible. It is safe to say that Bible

27、influences every aspect of its disciples life. Consequently, many sayings and sentences in Bible have been popularly accepted. They have been deeply rooted among people and people frequently use them to cite a truth or express their ideas without paying any attention to their origins any more. These

28、 sayings are no longer only confined to religion and they have become proverbs which reflect English people religious faith such as Every man must carry his own cross This proverb is from Bible, Matthew, on the grounds of Matthew, the main idea is like this: “As the soldiers went out, they came upon

29、 a man from Cyrene named Simon they compelled this man to carry Jesus cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a skull), they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his

30、 clothes among themselves by casting lots then they sat down there and kept watching over him. Over his head they put the charge against, which read, “This is Jesus, the king of the Jews.”4 From this, we can know that cross means sufferings. The proverb tends to tell us that everyone should put up w

31、ith misery in daily life and undertake the lifes burden. Another proverb is also from the Bible: One doesnt live only by bread. It is from the Bible, Deuteronomy， the general idea is: “ Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble y

32、ou, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with Manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but

33、by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”5 From this, we can know that material is not the only thing that is indispensable to men. Spirit is also very important. Is one is only searched for material, he will be considered as animals, for the most distinctive characteristic between men and animals is